Helping Your Child Become a Confident Problem Solver

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Problem-solving kids are all around us, but they can greatly benefit from a parent’s direction at times. A lot of children will be solving problems through their time in school, but parents can also help them in their confidence to navigate issues with ease. Here are some top tips that this nursery in Herefordshire recommends.

Give them different games to test their thought processes
Trial and error is the best way of helping a child with their understanding of solving problems. Facilitate this by having a number of games and educational activities that will challenge their ability to think critically and look at what they do to manage a problem. Games and activities usually cater to children as solving problems will usually be fun and exciting.

Help them to identify the problem
Not all problems your child will face will come from playing games each week, some of them will happen naturally and others will appear in school lessons. The first thing children should do is work on identifying the problem first. If they can learn to identify what’s going on then they’ll be able to break down the problem they’re having much easier.

Sit down with them first and show them what the problem is from your perspective, and see if they agree. They may view the situation differently than you and have another opinion on the matter. Work with them to reach a level playing field.

Define the pros and cons
A problem can sometimes have as many pros as there are cons, so it’s important to identify them early on. Your child then learns how they can approach the problem through viewing what could be the best outcome at the time. Then they’re going to become more confident as time goes on with their skills, as they work around what they can realistically manage.

Christmas Gift Guide For Kids 2021

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It's the countdown to Christmas yet again - can you believe it? I'm so excited! After the past couple of years, it's nice to have some Christmas normality again and we are well and truly full of the festive spirit. To add to the excitement we've collaborated with different brands to put together a collection of gifts that would be perfect for children this year.


1. Build Your Own Microscope - £16.99
This is the perfect gift for those children that love to learn and build things with their own hands. It's eco-friendly, fully functioning - with 30x magnification. A fabulous STEM toy that is suited for ages 8 and over. You can view their full range of Build Your Own products over on their website.

2. David Walliams Book Boxset - £34.75
If your child likes to read then you can't go wrong with books by David Walliams - he is such a hit with the kids, and a bestseller. There are various books, and book box sets available online at Books2Door - all for great prices. You are really spoilt for choice as they cater for so many age ranges and stock so many genres of books.

3. PuroSound Labs JuniorJams Headphones - £59.99
Puro Sound Lab’s JuniorJams Bluetooth headphones for kids have been designed to give high quality performance and comfort at an affordable price. Available in a variety of different colours these are a must-have for both parents and children alike. Peace and quiet for us grown-ups and sound at a safe level for the kids. They are lightweight, wireless, volume-limiting, and fit comfortably around the ear. You can purchase them online here.
 
4. LittleDug Workstation - £19.99

Due to popular demand BiGDUG have launched a children’s version of their famous workbench - The LiTTLEDUG Workstation! Inspired by BiGDUG’s BiG400 Heavy Duty Workstation, the LiTTLEDUG Workstation is this year’s must-have Christmas present for engineers and DIY gurus of the future, who want to help out Mum & Dad with odd jobs around the home. I can imagine so many children enjoying this toy - it's great for building those fine motorskills too. At just 19.99 – it’s a Christmas bargain!



5. Orchard Toys Dizzy Donkey - £8.50
Suitable for children from the age of 5 - Dizzy Donkey is another hit from the ever so popular Orchard Toys. Act out crazy combinations in this fun-filled action and performance game - a fantastic twist on charades that will have the whole family laughing! I think this will go down a storm on Christmas day!
6. Learning Resources ABC Puzzle Cards - £13.50
Learning Resources are another favourite brand of outs - every toy or activity is always of value to us and we like to donate to school or nursery when we are done with them. Perfect for preschoolers and reception children - this set of 26 puzzles each features a letter of the alphabet in upper- and lowercase form and a word beginning with that letter on one piece, and a full-colour illustration on the other. From apple to zebra, your child will pick up new language skills as they play. Great for nurturing those early literacy skills.

7. Geomag Magicube Shapes - £29.99
Little inventors will love getting creative with this 13-Piece Magnetic Blocks & Wheels set from the Geomag Magicube range. This exciting construction set is the perfect first introduction to the world of block building. With unique magnetic blocks, children will love using their imaginations to create anything they like. As well as colourful blocks, this set includes 4 magnetic wheels to help bring their creations to life. Plus, the blocks are all made from 100% recycled plastic.


8. Blopens Sequins Activity Set - £14.99
My kids are big fans of BLOPENS from John Adams - they love creating their very own airbrush pictures. With this set, you can create sparkling airbrush-style pictures using sequins too - a little bit extra for Christmas! It includes over 200 sequins to add those sparkling finishing touches.

9. Pets Alive Pet Shop Surprise - £15.00
Available to buy now online at Argos - these fluffy pets are bound to be a big hit this Christmas. Adopt, Cuddle and Interact: With the electronic interactive features, your child can experience the joy of a new pet – encouraging friendship, excitement, and the importance of celebrating others! There are 6 pets to collect and there are lots of surprises to discover.

10. Mini Brands Surprise Toy - £7.00
These surprise toys would make the most perfect stocking filler. At £7.00 from The Entertainer they don't break the bank either. Unwrap, peel and reveal miniature collectibles of iconic and loved brands like Heinz Beans, Aunt Bessies, Slush Puppy and so much more! There are over 100 Series 2 Mini Brands including rare, super rare, and even ULTRA rare miniatures to collect, and even new accessories to create your mini shopping world. Ideal for children who love to collect!

11. So Slime DIY Ice Cream Factory - £20.00
What is it with kids and slime? You can make 10 different slime sundaes this Christmas with your very own slime ice-cream factory! The kit comes with all you need to serve up amazing slime creations! Scoop and squish your ice cream, shake and squeeze on the sauce, then decorate with toppings and serve. Scoop the Ice slime, add the squishy Fluffy slime, and top with the wonderfully scented DIY Slime Sauce! I know Ava is going to be delighted to find this under the Christmas tree! Check out all the So Slime toys over on Argos.

12. Canal Studio Creator Unicorn Light Up Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - £29.99
The Unicorn Light Up Bluetooth Speaker is a real show-stealer of a Christmas present - gifting children magical music and lights. This fun portable, bluetooth speaker lights up with 8 fun colour modes. It can be used both as a light-up lamp/ night light and a fabulous portable speaker. It also comes with stickers so children can decorate the unicorn as they see fit. Another fabulous gift suggestion from Canal Toys.


13. Bloomsbury Mill Duvet Cover - £14.99
Bring some festive cheer into your children's bedroom with this Winter Wonderland duvet set from Bloomsbury Mill. Cosy up this Christmas with our vibrant winter wonderland printed bed set. From Santa and his sleigh to reindeers and elves, this fun and festive set is the perfect way to bring the magic of Christmas into any bedroom. A vibrant and playful design, it’s crafted from an easy-care cotton blend so it’s super soft, durable, quick-drying and requires minimal ironing.

14. Elf On The Shelf Puzzle & Blind Bags - from £2.99
If you bring out the elves every year like I do then you need to know about these products. The Elf on the Shelf puzzle the perfect gift for the elves to bring your child - perhaps when nearing near the big day. A Christmas Eve puzzle night! The Elf on the Shelf and Elf Pets blind bags are a lovely addition also - we hid them around the house for the children to find one morning. The puzzle retails at £8.99 and the blind bags are £2.99 each - you can find both online at Santa's Store.

15. FourFit Mini 2 - £29.99
Want to get the kids outside and get them moving more. Perhaps you want to encourage them to sleep more? The Fourfit Mini 2 may be just the ticket. It features; sleep tracking, activity monitoring, vibration smart alarm, get up & move reminder, step tracking, Heart rate tracking, blood pressure monitoring, calorie counter, easy find from the phone app with built-in anti-lose feature, and comes in 5 colour choices! You can purchase it now for £29.99.


16. Frugi Clothing - from £20.00
Frugi is hands down one of my favourite clothing brands for children. Their clothing is ethically sourced, made from organic materials, and with the utmost quality. Their designs are always so unique and feature modern twists and some nods to classic styling. Frugi kindly gifted both Noah and Ava an outfit each and I cannot wait to get them dressed up in these outfits on Christmas day! Visit the website to check out their amazing A/W range.


17. VW Campervan Bedspread - £295
As I get older I really value a practical gift, one which will be used all year round and not at Christmas. Things like clothes, bedding, towels - always a hit with me. This year we've slowly been piecing together Ava's new bedroom and I've added this fantastic bedspread from Snug Company to my wishlist.

18. Pokemon Toys - from £9.99
Pokemon celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion released an array of different merchandise. 
First on the cards were the stunning Silver Pokémon Plushes - Kanto region's favourites; Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander. They feature incredible detail and a soft feel, they are only available for a limited amount of time this year so catch them while you can! If plushes aren't for you then do check out the 3” Silver Figures - also highly detailed and only available for a limited time in 2021! Both officially licensed Pokémon products from Jazwares. You can also celebrate 25 years of Pokémon with this Pikachu construction set. This Electric-type Pokémon stands over 4 inches tall and can be posed in different positions. This faithfully modeled Pikachu stands ready to celebrate with a party hat and gift - I know that Noah is going to love finding him under the Christmas tree. 


19. Bluey Plush - £9.99
Bluey has won the hearts of kids and parents around the world since it first launched in Australia in 2018 and has also scooped awards including an International Emmy Kids Award. Toys and gifts hit shelves in the UK this summer and Bluey is the #1 new UK toy property, year-to-date. This Bluey plush would be a lovely surprise in your little ones stocking this year and at just £9.99 you can't go wrong.

20. MyFirst Headphones BC - £75.00
Unlike traditional headphones, myFirst headphones use bone conduction technology to transmit sounds via the cheekbones. The technology leaves ears open to the surrounding sounds, meaning parents can get their child’s attention and most importantly, allows a child to listen to music and still be alert to their surroundings. The headphones are wireless and can be connected via Bluetooth smartphones, tablets, or even watches to play music or audio from 15meteres away. They are unbreakable and featherlight weighing just 26 grams. Once fully charged they can be on standby for 480 hours and playback for 5 hours. They are water-resistant to IP66 meaning they can survive whatever a child does to them. They retail at £75 from myFirst.Tech.


21. Jurrasic Park Kids Interactive Smart Watch - £40.00
Kids will think they are the best thing since sliced bread with this Jurassic Park Black Interactive Silicon Strap Watch! This touch screen watch has dozens of features; 10 watch faces (5 analogue and 5 digital), selfie photo/video camera, games, fitness tracker, alarm/stopwatch/timer, voice recorder & calculator. It is powered by USB cable which is included and also used for data download to a smart phone/device. It is Officially licensed Jurassic Park merchandise and perfect for all those dinosaur lovers out there.

22. Disney Cinderella Castle Snow Globe - £25.00
Last, but certainly not least we have my favourite item from the entire gift guide - the Disney Cinderella Castle Snow Globe. It's officially licensed and absolutely stunning - a real statement Christmas present and something which can be treasured for years to come. You can purchase it online now at Lost Universe.

What is your favourite item from this gift guide?

Swizzels Sweet Hamper For Christmas - Review & Giveaway

AD - I was sent this product for the purpose of the review and compensated for my time.


Swizzels are a beloved brand here in Britain and have been around for generations - since 1928 to be precise. I remember back when I was a kid, skipping to the corner shop and filling my paper sweet bag full to the brim with Parma Violets - my favourite! Love Hearts are also iconic to me - they were our love language back in primary school. My friends and I would dig out of favourite Love Heart message and sneak it into the boy's backpacks - haha. Swizzels fills me with fond memories and lots of nostalgia - it makes me so happy to see them still around and enjoyed just as much as my children.


This weekend, on a dull and dreary afternoon we had a surprise delivery - a Swizzels hamper! The kids literally squealed in delight when they spotted the box. At just 8 and 4 years of age recognise their iconic logo and couldn't wait to tuck in. They were both already suited and booted in their new Christmas onesies and couldn't wait to gobble up some Swizzels whilst watch a Christmas movie. 


We received the retro premium hamper which retails at just £12.99. Every sweet in this hamper is suitable for vegans and vegetarians and the hamper weighs a whopping 1.1kg. Inside are the favourites that we all know and love such as Rainbow Drops, Parma Violets, Fizzers, Drumstick chews, Refresher bars, Love Hearts, and more! 
The dimensions of the hamper are, 8cm high x 25.5 cm wide x 15cm deep. Contents may vary from hamper to hamper and it's worth noting that the lollipops aren't recommended for children under the age of 2 years.


The kids didn't waste much time in picking out their favourites and I couldn't wait to get my hands on those Parma Violets. Swizzels stock an array of different hampers which I think make a lovely change to selection boxes for Christmas. Prices start at just £9.99. How would you like to win a Swizzels hamper? To enter simply use the form below.

Swizzels Hamper

Terms & Conditions.         
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize provided by Swizzels. 
3. Competition ends 05/12/21.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only. 18 years old to enter.